But first, let me ask you a question? What would you give to someone who saved your life? Well, according to the apocryphal story surrounding the Oriental Cocktail, perhaps you’d give them your favorite cocktail recipe? According to “The Savoy Cocktail Book” (Constable & Co., 1930):

“In August 1924, an American Engineer nearly died of fever in the Philippines, and only the extraordinary devotion of Dr. B— saved his life. As an act of gratitude, the Engineer gave Dr. B— the recipe of this Cocktail.”

Now, this story raises several issues for me. First, AP Stylebook be damned, I would like to go back to the style of capitalizing the word “Cocktail.” Next, if this recipe was so special, how did Harry Craddock, bartender at London’s Savoy Hotel, end up getting his hands on it?